Quick answer: Acoustic panels for schools, offices, and sports halls reduce reverberation and background noise by absorbing sound energy at source. Presentation Spaces supplies wall panels, ceiling rafts, suspended baffles, and impact-resistant boards that meet BB93 design guidance and Class A absorption standards, with free UK delivery and expert specification advice.

Wall panels: the first line of acoustic treatment

Acoustic wall panels are the most straightforward way to bring reverberation times into range for speech intelligibility. They work by covering reflective hard surfaces with absorptive fabric-wrapped cores, typically achieving NRC (noise reduction coefficient) ratings of 0.80 to 1.00 at mid-frequencies.

Our Zen Liner Class A acoustic wall panel is the workhorse of the range. Available in a wide choice of fabric colours, it fits flush to the wall and meets the Class A absorption standard (ISO 354), making it suitable for classrooms, meeting rooms, and corridors where background noise needs controlling without major structural works. For spaces that double as display areas, the Zen Acoustic Pin Board combines Class A absorption with a pinnable face, so display and acoustics share a single panel.

Panel size, quantity, and placement all affect the outcome. A rough rule: treat 20 to 30 per cent of the total surface area (walls plus ceiling) as a starting point, then adjust once you have a reverberation time target from your acoustic survey or from BB93.

Ceiling rafts and suspended baffles: overhead absorption

When walls are largely occupied by windows, doors, interactive screens, or display boards, overhead installation is often the only practical route to meeting a reverberation target. Ceiling-mounted solutions are also highly effective because sound travels upward after bouncing off floors and furniture.

The Zen Acoustic Ceiling Raft hangs horizontally from drop rods, creating a floating panel that absorbs sound on both faces (top and bottom), effectively doubling its active surface area relative to a wall panel of the same size. Rafts are popular in open-plan offices and refurbished classrooms where suspended ceilings have been removed to expose the structural deck.

Where headroom or services routes make flat rafts awkward, Zen Baffles offer a vertical alternative. Installed in rows perpendicular to the ceiling plane, baffles increase the total absorptive surface without reducing clear height, and they can be spaced and coloured to create a design feature as well as a functional one.

For longer, narrower spaces such as sports hall galleries, corridors, or warehouse-style offices, consider the Zen Beam, a linear suspended absorber that runs the length of the space and integrates lighting or services within the same structural element.

Acoustic panels for schools: BB93 compliance explained

BB93 (Building Bulletin 93) is the Department for Education's acoustic design guide for schools in England. It sets minimum and recommended reverberation time targets by room type and age group. Key figures:

• General teaching spaces for primary pupils: recommended RT of 0.4 to 0.6 seconds (500 Hz to 1 kHz).
• General teaching spaces for secondary pupils: recommended RT of 0.6 to 0.8 seconds.
• Spaces for pupils with hearing impairment: maximum 0.4 seconds.
• Sports halls: 1.5 seconds maximum average (500 Hz to 2 kHz).

Most new builds achieve these targets through a combination of ceiling tiles, wall panels, and floor finish. Older stock rarely does. A fabric-wrapped panel such as the Zen Liner is a cost-effective retrofit that adds meaningful absorption without permanent structural changes, which matters when budgets are tight or the space is listed.

If you are writing a specification or submitting for RIBA Stage 2 sign-off, we can provide NRC/absorption data sheets and help you model the expected reverberation reduction before ordering. Contact our team for specification support.

Acoustic solutions for sports halls and impact-prone spaces

Sports halls present a harder problem than classrooms. They are large, have almost no soft furnishings, and the wall surfaces must withstand ball impact. Standard fabric-wrapped panels will not survive regular contact with footballs or basketballs.

The Zen Impacta is designed specifically for these environments. Its face is a perforated rigid board rather than fabric, capable of withstanding repeated ball impact while still delivering Class A acoustic absorption through its mineral wool core. It is specified on primary and secondary school sports halls, leisure centres, and multi-use games areas where conventional panels would be damaged within weeks.

Positioning Zen Impacta panels at the lower three metres of the wall (the impact zone) and supplementing with ceiling rafts or baffles overhead is the standard approach for sports halls targeting the BB93 1.5-second limit.

Acoustic panels for offices: open plan, meeting rooms, and breakout spaces

Office acoustics follow a different set of pressures from schools. The primary problem is rarely reverberation alone; it is the cocktail of reflected speech from neighbouring workstations making concentration difficult. Absorption reduces the level at which sound bounces, shortening the distance over which conversations carry.

A combination of wall panels and ceiling rafts is the most effective approach for open-plan floors. Meeting rooms and phone booths need higher coverage, typically 40 to 60 per cent of total surface area, to achieve the privacy and clarity needed for video calls. The Zen Acoustic Pin Board is a useful dual-purpose solution in meeting rooms, where wall space is at a premium and display is also needed.

How much acoustic treatment does a room actually need?

The amount of treatment depends on the room's volume, its current surface finishes, and the target reverberation time. A simple formula (Sabine's equation) gives a starting estimate: RT60 = 0.161 × V ÷ A, where V is room volume in cubic metres and A is total absorption in sabins. In practice, most unfurnished classrooms need between 12 and 20 square metres of Class A panel to move from an RT of around 1.2 seconds (typical of an empty room with hard plaster) to the BB93 recommended 0.4 to 0.6 seconds range.

We offer free UK delivery and free specification advice. Send us your room dimensions, current finishes, and target RT and we will confirm a panel area recommendation before you order.

Frequently asked questions

Do acoustic panels work in classrooms?

Yes. Acoustic panels in classrooms reduce reverberation time, which is the main factor in speech intelligibility for younger pupils and those with hearing difficulties. A Class A panel such as the Zen Liner absorbs a high proportion of mid-frequency sound energy, where the human voice is most active. In a standard primary classroom, fitting 15 to 20 square metres of Class A panel can reduce reverberation from around 1.0 to 1.2 seconds down to the BB93-recommended 0.4 to 0.6 seconds range.

What is BB93 and does my school have to comply with it?

BB93 (Building Bulletin 93) is the statutory acoustic design standard for new and significantly refurbished schools in England. New school buildings must comply. For existing schools undergoing minor refurbishment, BB93 is recommended guidance rather than a legal requirement, but it is the accepted benchmark used by local authorities and Ofsted when assessing learning environment quality. Specifying panels to BB93 targets is good practice regardless of whether compliance is technically mandatory.

What is the difference between a ceiling raft and a suspended baffle?

A ceiling raft hangs horizontally, parallel to the ceiling plane. It presents a large flat face to the room below and, because sound also wraps over the top, absorbs from both surfaces. A baffle hangs vertically, perpendicular to the ceiling, and is typically arranged in rows. Baffles use the same absorptive core as rafts but suit taller spaces where clear height must be preserved, or linear runs above corridors and breakout areas. The Zen Raft and Zen Baffle can be combined in the same space when the geometry calls for it.

Are acoustic panels suitable for soundproofing a classroom?

Acoustic panels reduce reverberation and internal noise levels; they are not a soundproofing solution. Soundproofing (blocking sound between rooms) requires mass and isolation in the building structure, such as dense partition walls, acoustic glazing, and floating floors. If your problem is noise travelling between classrooms through shared walls or ceilings, you need a structural survey, not panels. If the problem is noise within a room (echo, excessive RT, poor speech clarity) then acoustic panels are the correct product.

How long do acoustic wall panels last?

Well-specified acoustic panels typically last 15 to 25 years with normal use. Fabric-wrapped panels can be re-covered if the surface becomes worn or if a colour refresh is needed. The Zen Impacta impact-resistant panel has a perforated rigid face designed to resist repeated ball contact, making it suitable for sports hall environments where fabric panels would fail within months.

Can I combine acoustic panels with display or pinboard surfaces?

Yes. The Zen Acoustic Pin Board is designed exactly for this. It combines a Class A absorptive core with a pinnable fabric face that accepts drawing pins and map pins, making it suitable for classroom or office display without any acoustic compromise. It is the most practical option when wall space is limited and both display and noise control are priorities.